Foundation for Pinckneyville to Host Masquerade Party Oct. 30
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Nobody would mistake the downtown area of Pinckneyville for the French Quarter of New Orleans, but the Pinckneyville Chamber of Commerce brings a bit of southern flair and revelry to town with the annual Mardi Gras Celebration each October.
This year, the Foundation for Pinckneyville is adding a new event to the weekend's line-up: a masquerade party on Oct. 30. The event will be held in the former McDaniel's Furniture Store on the square. The party runs from 8 to 11 p.m. and features both a silent and a live auction.
The auction will include about 50 items or groups of items, ranging in value from $20 to $2,000. Bidders will get some great prizes at a fraction of their actual value.
One of the most valuable prizes is a one-week stay at the Royal Palms Mariott World Center from June 6 to June 13. Also included, is a trip to Disney World to watch the PCHS Marching Panthers perform at Disney World on June 8. The trip was donated by James and Patti Wittenauer.
Another interesting auction item was donated by the Pinckneyville Fire Department. The Fire Department will bring a fire truck to a child's birthday party.
Ryan Luke of Luke's Shadetree Cafe is offering in-home cooking lessons.
Other top prizes include eight tickets to the 2010 Cubs/Cardinals Series, donated by Irl Englehardt; a Savage Mark II .22 rifle, donated by Hush Bullet Inc.; two tickets to the NASCAR Truck Race and Nationwide Race on July 16 and 17 at Gateway International Raceway and overnight stay at the Drury Inn, donated by Southwest Illinois Tourism Group; a wine rack and 10 bottles of wine, donated by Tillock Steel & Salvage and Jeannie Bathon; a 1959 Sports Illustrated with an article about Pinckneyville.
Tickets are $25 each or $250 for a table of eight. Call 571-1171 for more information.
Work on the Foundation for Pinckneyville's masquerade party has been underway for several months. The Foundation's General Manager Tibretta Reiman said the idea for the party came early last year, but had to be approved by the Foundation's Board of Directors.
The purpose of the event is to raise funds for the Foundation's operation. The foundation works to improve education, health care and economic and employment opportunities in the Friendly Little City, as well as promote tourism and assist non-profit organizations with fund-raising and grant applications.
The Foundation has brought a Smithsonian Exhibit- Between Fences, a Leadership Series, a Jazz Concert and several other events to town over the past year.
The next major event for the Foundation is a visit from Rhodes Scholar Penelope Bingham, who will give a talk on the evolution of Thanksgiving. The talk will be held at 7 p.m. at the Methodist Church on November 17.
In addition to regular cultural events, the Foundation has worked with partners to create a community guide and a video promoting the town. Visit the foundationforpinckneyville.org to view the towncast or for more information.
The Foundation is also working with two groups to bring an American Heritage Museum and a High School Basketball Museum to Pinckneyville. The Foundation and the City of Pinckneyville are currently working on a grant application together.
Reiman has had plenty of help with the event. Roger Brand of Name Brand Creations is decorating the building for the party. Shade Tree Cafe in Pinckneyville is catering and a great number of people have worked to collect and package items for the auction. They include: Aby Helvey, Carrie Ford, Cheryl Bigham, Gayl Pyatt, James Wittenauer, Jane Chapman, Jeanne Bathon, Jeff Egbert, Laci Harper, Maria Reyes, Matt Price, Michelle Breslin, Nancy Bigham, Pat Kattenbraker, Paulet Loos, Penny Hawk, Roger & Meschelle Brand, Ryan and Zoe Luke, Tautchia Coleman, Neva Corn, Cheryl Schneider and Coral Ramsey.